The British War Office sent a telegram providing formal authority to raise and equip the new regiment on Saturday, 8 August 1914. Hamiliton Gault settled the financial arrangements with Colonel Fiset, Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, based on the estimates provided by General D.A. MacDonald, CMG, the Quartermaster-General. Gault committed to pay $100,000 (nearly $2.4 million in 2014 dollars) towards the raising of a full strength infantry battalion. Any remaining expenses would be borne by the Government of Canada. When all was said and done, it cost $99,043.56 to equip the new regiment.
